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APA YouTube Citation

Generate APA citations from YouTube video URLs.

Journal article
Example result
Watson, J. D., & Crick, F. H. C. (1953). Molecular structure of nucleic acids: A structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature, 171(4356), 737–738. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0
Source data complete
APA 7th
Watson, James D., and Francis H. C. Crick. “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.” Nature, vol. 171, no. 4356, 1953, pp. 737–738. DOI: 10.1038/171737a0.
Source data complete
APA 7th
Watson, James D., and Francis H. C. Crick. 1953. “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid.” Nature 171 (4356): 737–38. https://doi.org/10.1038/171737a0.
Source data complete

For one YouTube video, Short, or archived live video on a single video page, not a channel or playlist. Reviewed against official APA Style guidance on March 20, 2026. Need broader APA rules? APA Citation.

APA Format for YouTube Video References
7th Edition

Author, A. A. [Channel Name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL
Creator name
  • Use the real name first when the video page shows a person name that differs from the channel name.
  • Put the channel name in square brackets after the real name.
  • If only the channel name is available, use that name in the author position and do not add brackets.
  • When an organization owns the channel, use the organization name as the author.
Date
  • Use the full upload date shown for the video.
  • Format the date as (Year, Month Day).
  • If the page does not show a usable date, use (n.d.).
Title and description
  • Write the video title in italic and use sentence case.
  • Add the bracketed description [Video] right after the title.
  • Keep proper nouns and well known acronyms capitalized.
Source
  • Use YouTube as the source element.
  • Do not replace YouTube with the channel name or the series name.
URL and scope
  • Use the direct URL for the video you watched.
  • Use this format for standard uploads, Shorts, and archived live videos that resolve to a single video page.
  • Channel home pages and playlists do not use this same video pattern.

APA YouTube Citation Examples

Real name and channel name differ

Put the real name first, then the channel name in square brackets.
Reference list entry
Rivera, M. [Math with Maya]. (2025, February 14). How I organize source notes for long papers [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7f2kL9mN3Q

Channel name only

If the video page does not show a separate real name, use the channel name as the author.
Reference list entry
Not Just Bikes. (2024, November 8). Why street design changes daily travel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8v3nP4rT6Y

Organization channel

Treat the organization as the author and keep YouTube as the source.
Reference list entry
World Health Organization. (2025, March 3). How vaccine safety is monitored [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2p4dL8sW1Z

Short or archived live video

If the link resolves to a specific video page, cite it as a normal YouTube video.
Reference list entry
History Minute. (2025, January 9). Why Roman concrete lasted so long [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4m8tR2qN7C

In-Text Citations

APA in-text citations for YouTube videos use the same author element that appears in the reference and the year of upload.

Add a timestamp when you quote a line or send readers to a precise moment in the video.

Basic citation styles

Parenthetical citation

Put the creator or channel name and year in parentheses.

(Not Just Bikes, 2024)

(Rivera, 2025)

Narrative citation

Put the creator or channel name in the sentence and the year in parentheses.

Not Just Bikes (2024)

Rivera (2025)

Quoted moment or precise reference

Parenthetical citation

Add the timestamp after the year when you quote or point to a specific moment.

(World Health Organization, 2025, 2:14)

Narrative citation

Keep the same timestamp in the narrative form.

World Health Organization (2025, 2:14)

Speaker featured in the video

If the uploader is not the person speaking, name that speaker in your sentence and cite the video in parentheses.

Dr. Lee explains the sampling change early in the briefing (City Council SF, 2025, 12:08).

Before You Cite the Video

How This Differs from a Webpage Citation

A YouTube video is not treated like a standard webpage in APA. The reference uses the video title, the label [Video], YouTube as the source, and the direct URL for the video page you watched.

A normal webpage citation does not use [Video] and does not point readers back to a specific video page. If you are citing a channel page, profile, or playlist, do not reuse the individual video pattern on this page.

If you quote spoken words, add the timestamp in the in-text citation so readers can find that exact moment in the video.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Mistake 1

Using YouTube as the author

The author slot should hold the creator, channel, or organization responsible for the video.

Wrong

✕ YouTube. (2025, March 3). How vaccine safety is monitored [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2p4dL8sW1Z

Correct

✓ World Health Organization. (2025, March 3). How vaccine safety is monitored [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2p4dL8sW1Z

Mistake 2

Leaving out the bracketed description

APA keeps the medium label in brackets right after the italicized title.

Wrong

✕ Not Just Bikes. (2024, November 8). Why street design changes daily travel. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8v3nP4rT6Y

Correct

✓ Not Just Bikes. (2024, November 8). Why street design changes daily travel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8v3nP4rT6Y

Mistake 3

Dropping the channel name when the two names differ

When a real name and a different channel name are both relevant, keep the channel name in square brackets.

Wrong

✕ Rivera, M. (2025, February 14). How I organize source notes for long papers [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7f2kL9mN3Q

Correct

✓ Rivera, M. [Math with Maya]. (2025, February 14). How I organize source notes for long papers [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7f2kL9mN3Q

Mistake 4

Using title case for the video title

APA uses sentence case for video titles, not title case.

Wrong

✕ How I Organize Source Notes for Long Papers

Correct

✓ How I organize source notes for long papers

Mistake 5

Using a page number for a quoted line

Videos use timestamps in in-text citations. They do not use page numbers.

Wrong

✕ (City Council SF, 2025, p. 4)

Correct

✓ (City Council SF, 2025, 4:12)

Mistake 6

Using a channel URL instead of the exact video URL

A YouTube video reference should end with the direct URL for the video you used. A channel or playlist link points readers to a different source.

Wrong

✕ Not Just Bikes. (2024, November 8). Why street design changes daily travel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustBikes

Correct

✓ Not Just Bikes. (2024, November 8). Why street design changes daily travel [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8v3nP4rT6Y

Official APA References Used for This Page

We aligned this page to APA 7 guidance for YouTube references, reference examples, and the core APA reference rules that govern author names, dates, title treatment, and source labels.

This page focuses on individual YouTube videos. Review the official APA examples before reusing this pattern for channel pages, playlists, or other online video platforms.

APA YouTube Citation FAQ

If the video page shows only a channel name and no separate real name, use that channel name in the author position.

In that case you do not add a second bracketed name after it.

Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL

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